The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) is making its efforts to recapture the Saudi rice market, which has fallen to just 11 percent in the last fiscal year, Rahim Janoo, ex-chairman, REAP, and member, Rice Board of Pakistan, said here Saturday.

“REAP has increased its share up to 19 percent to Saudi Arabia, while this year it will progress to 25 percent,” he said in a statement. “At one point the share of Pakistani rice in Saudi Arabia was 54 percent, which was reduced to 11 percent due to mismanagement in REAP.”

He added that REAP has taken a number of measures to improve the export to Saudi Arab, and in this connection, the government has also supported REAP’s suggestion and a number of incentives including duty free import of rice processing machineries have been provided.